by Jen, DIYLounge.com
This is the story of the little crafty bar in the city. Like all country songs, it’s a sad, sad story. Oh, I said the bar was in the city. My bad.
On with the story! (With some guest appearances by some of my friends who commented on the photos).
We found a little hole in the wall bar called Blackwell’s, across the street from the Hollywood Theater in Portland, OR. We were totally minding our own business.
Heather: Bar + Crafts = WTF??
Regina: Sooo you’ve seen the book “Simple Times- Crafts for Poor People” by Amy Sedaris, right? It’s all this and much more. A few photos in the book actually made me feel nauseous…. It’s a must see if you haven’t already!
I had to go to the bathroom and was attacked by tacky crafts. I knew I needed to grab my camera.
I also grabbed Jenni. We were laughing so hard it was hard for me to hold the camera still to shoot this.
Yup. That really happened.
Jenni: And right here we have a stenciled bear framed in a spray painted embroidery hoop.
How about the rug hooked rug in front of the toilet? God, this looks even more gross in a photo if that is possible.
Diana: Looks aside, that is a crafty bacteriafest. Ewwwwww.
Tamara: I’m dying to see the proprietor responsible for this mess
Steph Anne: I went on antibiotics after viewing this
We were dying over this. This piece of “art” was screwed into the wall and half of the frame is missing.
Jenni: Is only half a frame “minimalist”? Or did someone grab on it as they slipped on the hooked rug? Hard to tell.
A close up version of this beautiful piece of “art”.
As far as I can tell someone hot glued dried flowers to an embroidery hoop and called it art. There are also mysterious stains and cobwebs as an embellishment.
This is Jenni reacting to the condom machine next to the 1970′s country craft vomit on the walls. Good stuff.
Quick run for your lives! Or better yet to the nearest clinic!
OMG! I live out in the country and see this in almost all the local taverns. The owner/wife/mother decides to “spruce up” the place with all their old cast-off crafts. The ladies room in our local American Legion hall is filled with red, white, and blue flower arrangments. thanks for sharing this gag fest!
Oh.My.God. That is…. well I have no words. Ha! I live in Portland (Tigard) I think I will have to check that out in person! With Lysol in hand of course.
As a Scentsy consultant, I am in many homes with a variety of “decorating styles” and I’ve seen a lot similar to the above “creations”. Before I go to my hostess’ home for her party, I ask her what her color scheme or decorating theme is so that I can bring a warmer that would be a good fit for her to use as a display or gift. MANY times they ask – what do you mean? We have all sorts of colors and decorations. When I enter the home, I see they are serious! At least when I leave the Scentsy warmer, they will have at least one classy piece of decor.
Thank you for this post. I laughed so hard I was crying. Seriously…good stuff.
the half frame, minimalist, omg, I died laughing at this. HYSTERICAL. Thanks for the hardy laugh!
I think this is mean spirited. Though the things in the place are truely horrifying – Someone thought well enough of it to put it up. I enjoy the humor of people sharing their own thoughts about things gone wrong – it is different when someone makes fun of someone else.
@ellen, yes, this is a departure for our site & not something we usually do. The girls who wrote this post actually volunteered to help redecorate the bar, and their offer was accepted.
I thought it was a little mean… till I saw the hot glued flower. Now that was LMBO!!!
It was nice of them to offer to redecorate. I hope they leave that flower in a hoop up. It is fabulous! :-)
I think that most patrons probably liked it……………of course after a cocktail or two most anything looks better. Thanks for the laugh. I am sure that it looks much better now. Hey how about some after photos :)